Slipped Disc Treatment in Mumbai, India
Overview
A slipped disc also known as a herniated disc is the prolapse of spinal cord discs. The spinal cord is a structure constructed with 23 spinal discs. Spinal discs are cushioned box-like structures filled with internal contents. The internal contents comprise soft tissues, nerves, and other internal organs.
A slipped disc occurs when the inner material slips out of the box and gets stuck. It causes severe pain, weakness, and a bulge or swelling in the back. The pain area depends on the nerve involved in the prolapse. Some people might not experience pain if prolapse excludes nerve compression.
Associated Anatomy
The spinal cord, spinal disc, and Spinal nervous system—lumbar, cervical, thoracic, and sacral nerves.
Slipped Disc Symptoms
The symptoms and signs are specific to the part of disc prolapse. If the prolapse is in your lower back, you will experience pain in your buttock, thigh, and calf muscles. You might not feel any pain if your nerves did not herniate. Some people won’t recognize a disc prolapse at all unless a spinal imaging procedure is performed.
Some symptoms of slipped disc are:
Severe Pain:
Pain in the neck, shoulder, and arm - if the disc slip is in the upper part of the spinal cord.
Back pain - if a disc prolapses in the lower part of the spinal cord.
Pain in the buttocks, hips, thighs, and legs - a disc prolapse pressing on the sciatic nerve.
- Numbness and tingling
- Limited movements: Movements are restricted to a certain extent. You might not be able to extend your body. You will experience some discomfort if you do so.
- Muscle weakness
- Excruciating pain in sudden movements: Shooting pains in the prolapse location during sudden movements like sneezing, coughing, and laughing.
Slipped Disc Causes
Several important causes of the slip disc are as follows:
- Aging: Spinal discs are nothing but cushion-like layers in between the bones. During the aging process, these discs are prone to rupture.
- Obesity: Being overweight is one important reason for a disproportionate weight balance. An unbalanced weight will lead to prolapses. Inactivity is also a contributing factor.
- Excessive work/stress on the spinal disc: Excessive strain on the disc can rupture and break it, leading to tearing and internal material spillage (herniation). Frequent rigorous exercises, heavy machine work, and heavy weight lifting are all examples of overstretching.
- Abnormal movements: Improper weight lifting, twisting positions, and stretches can sometimes lead to disc prolapsing.
Slipped Disc Stages
A slipped disc or disc herniation is the spillage of internal contents (nucleus pulposus present inside the disc) out of the disc. Slipped disc can also be called herniation of the nucleus pulposus (HNP). There are five different steps in the pathophysiology of disc prolapse. The process of progression of slipped disc is:
- Disc degeneration (wall erosion)
- Disc protrusion (internal material penetration)
- Prolapsed disc (prolapsed internal material)
- Disc extrusion (complete prolapse)
- Sequestered disc (internal material spillage)
Slip Disc Treatment
Slip disc treatment plans include medication, home therapies, surgery, and physical therapy.
Medications
Pain killers, analgesics, muscle relaxants, and epidural injections for reducing swelling and pain.
Home Therapies
Home remedies are limited and temporary such as ice packs/hot packs, topical pain-relieving balms and sprays, bed rest, and regular painkillers - paracetamol, acetaminophen, etc.
Surgery
Spinal decompression surgery, artificial disk replacement, spinal fusion surgery, etc.
Physical Therapy
It focuses on relieving pain through the use of minor physical exercises, bracing, traction, and electrotherapy.
Slipped Discs Risk Factors
- Aging: The spinal discs weaken with increasing age.
- Sedentary lifestyle: Inactivity reduces overall strength and muscle power. Ultimately, the discs, ligaments, and muscles lose their ability to support the spine.
- Obesity: Excessive weight disrupts proper weight balance in the body.
- Heavy weight lifting/strenuous exercises
- Frequent vehicle driving
- Abnormal twisting stretches
- Occupational workload
Slipped Disc Complications
An untreated slipped disc can exacerbate the health condition.
The cauda equina is a bundle of nerve roots that emerges from the end of the spinal cord. It consists of parts of the lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal nerves. In rare cases, a herniated disc completely compresses the entire nervous system, including the cauda equina. In that case, emergency conditions like the following may arise.
- Bowel or bladder dysfunction (problems related to urination and stool passage)
- Progressing pain and numbness in the lower body
- Limitations in typical daily activities
- Progressive loss of sensations
Emergency surgery is the only Slip Disc treatment option at this stage. Otherwise, it might result in permanent paralysis, weakness, and bowel, and bladder dysfunction.
Slipped Disc Tests
The doctor might perform a physical examination and strength tests followed by imaging procedures like MRI, CT, and X-ray.
X-ray is used to rule out other probable diagnoses. It does not, however, help in the diagnosis of a slipped disc.
Slip Disc Prevention
The Primary Prevention Techniques for a Slipped Disc
- Maintain a healthy physical body structure.
- Avoid heavy/extra weight-bearing activities.
- Take breaks during continuous driving routines.
- Familiarise yourself with the precautions and guidelines, before engaging in any gym activities.
The Secondary Prevention Techniques for a Slipped Disc
- If you feel pain in your back, take adequate rest.
- If you see a visible bulge near your spinal cord, do consult your slipped disc doctor.
- If you have a medical history of disc prolapse, take additional care while lifting weights.
Epidemiology of a Slipped Disc
- A slipped disc is one of the most prevalent diagnoses. It affects up to 2% of the total population each year.
- A slipped disc or disc herniation is the leading cause of back pain.
- People between the ages of 30 and 50 are more prone to get a herniated disc.
- Slipped disc prevalence in men is two times higher than in women.
The Pathophysiology Behind Disc Herniation
Discs have soft internal materials like the nucleus pulposus and rigid external layers. If the outer layer weakens and breaks, the internal material spills out. The prolapse can compress the nearby spinal nerves. For a better understanding of the symptoms, consider the following:
- Cervical nerve: Pain in the neck, shoulder, and arms.
- Thoracic nerve: Pain radiating into the chest.
- Lumbar nerve: Pain extending towards legs through buttocks, thighs, and legs.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between a slipped disc, herniated disc and bulging disc?
Disc or intervertebral disc refers to an anatomical structure of the spine, located between two vertebrae. There are two main parts of a disc; the nucleus pulposus (the soft gel-like core) and annulus fibrosus (the tougher outer ring).
A slipped disc or a herniated disc occurs when annulus fibrosus, lets the nucleus pulposus bulge out and press on nearby nerves. A bulging disc protrudes outward but the outer ring is still intact. Both conditions are commonly known as slipped disc. The condition can cause back pain, sciatica or arm pain depending on which nerve is pressed.
2. Can a slipped disc lead to permanent nerve damage?
Yes, in some cases, a severely slipped disc with persistent nerve compression can lead to permanent nerve damage and may cause paralysis. Slipped disc should be considered a medical emergency and urgent medication or surgery (if indicated) can prevent long-term complications.
3. Can a slipped disc occur in the neck (cervical spine) as well?
Yes, herniation of the cervical disc may cause neck pain radiating to the shoulder, arm tingling or hand weakness. If you experience the key warning signs, such as loss of grip strength or difficulty with routine tasks related to mobility, consult a spine specialist immediately.
4. Can chiropractic care be beneficial for a slipped disc?
Physiotherapy or certified chiropractor may offer short-term pain relief in some patients. However, it is important to understand the exact cause of the underlying pain as in some cases, you may require medication or surgery. Always consult with a spine specialist or neurologist before opting for alternate therapy.
5. How much does slipped disc surgery cost in Mumbai?
The cost of slipped disc surgery in Mumbai can vary depending on factors such as the type of surgery, the complexity of the procedure, the hospital or healthcare facility chosen, and individual medical needs. For the most accurate and up-to-date cost information, it is recommended to consult hospitals directly.